October 17, 2025 | Monthly Network Meeting
Meeting Summary for Sound Reengagement Collaborative | October 17, 2025 Network Meeting
Summary created by Zoom AI Companion
Overview
This meeting of the Sound Reengagement Collaborative focused on establishing regional goals for reducing youth disconnection rates, identifying core values, and addressing challenges facing the collaborative's work. The group discussed their newly established goals for 2030, conducted a collaborative activity to identify threats and opportunities, and planned for their upcoming first Reengagement Advocacy Day in January 2026.
Key Concepts or Theories:
Regional disconnection rates: Currently 11.1% of young adults (16-24) in South King County, Pierce County, and Bellevue are neither working nor in school
Post-secondary disconnection: About 30.4% of young adults with high school diplomas but no post-secondary credentials are disconnected from both work and education
Collaborative approach to reengagement: Bringing together diverse organizations to create pathways for opportunity youth and adult learners
Street Data framework: A research methodology being implemented to better understand post-secondary disconnection
Important Questions Raised:
How can the collaborative effectively reduce regional disconnection rates from 11.1% to 8% by 2030?
What are the core values that bring the Sound Reengagement Collaborative together?
Which stakeholders are currently missing from the collaborative that should be included?
How can the collaborative respond to threats such as funding cuts and policy changes?
Key Takeaways and Summary of Learning Objectives
The Sound Reengagement Collaborative aims to reduce regional youth disconnection rates from 11.1% to 8% by 2030
The collaborative seeks to decrease post-secondary disconnection rates from 30.4% to 20% by 2030
These goals represent reconnecting approximately 6,400 young people over a 7-year period
The collaborative is planning its first Reengagement Advocacy Day on January 29, 2026
A research project using the Street Data framework will be conducted to better understand post-secondary disconnection
Topic 1: Regional Reengagement Goals
The Sound Reengagement Collaborative has established two primary goals based on data analysis and feedback from the advisory committee. The first goal aims to reduce the regional disconnection rate from 11.1% to 8% by 2030, representing approximately 6,400 young people who would need to be reconnected to education or employment. This target is ambitious yet considered achievable, as it would bring the rate below the 10-year low of 9.8% recorded in 2019. The second goal focuses specifically on post-secondary disconnection, targeting a reduction from 30.4% to 20% among young adults who have a high school credential but no post-secondary training and are disconnected from both work and school. These goals were developed using American Community Survey data, which provides annual statistics on disconnection rates. The collaborative recognizes that while these quantitative goals provide a "North Star" to measure progress, the real work involves building connections, implementing strategies, and creating pathways for young people to access education and employment opportunities.
Relevant Q&A
Inez: How are we defining connection?
Jeff: Connection is defined as anyone who is working or in school. The disconnection percentages represent those who are disconnected from both work and school.
Inez: When we say school, are we thinking about for-credit pathways only?
Jeff: It includes both K-12 and higher education. For post-secondary disconnection, it includes any training program, apprenticeships, job training programs, and programs at community and technical colleges.
Topic 2: Collaborative Challenges and Opportunities
The collaborative conducted an activity to identify core values, threats, opportunities, and potential partnerships. Using a framework from the Collective Impact Forum, participants were asked to reflect on five elements: core values and tensions, protect (identifying who is under threat), resist (identifying harmful policies), build (determining priorities), and bridge (strengthening relationships with potential supporters). Participants identified several challenges, including federal and state budget cuts, lack of mental health support resources, and barriers to post-secondary education access. The activity revealed concerns about the political climate and its impact on funding for reengagement work. Participants emphasized the importance of relationship building, authentic connections, and self-care for providers who are supporting young people while dealing with their own challenges. The collaborative recognized the need to identify specific priorities that could be addressed through collective action, potentially through focused work groups or committees that would emerge from the larger monthly gatherings.
Relevant Q&A
Nathaniel: Do we have people involved in mental health support involved in the Sound Reengagement Collaborative in any capacity? Danika: Currently, we have only a couple, and we used to have more involvement from WAPI. It's still a pretty underrepresented sector and an area of growth.
Sean: I was wondering if other folks are feeling pressure trickling down from the federal government to their funders, like private corporations?
Jeff: We need to think about how to pressure funders and folks benefiting from unjust tax policies to reinvest in the community. Part of our collective action should be reminding folks that money is being taken from the community and needs to be given back.
Topic 3: Research and Advocacy Initiatives
The Sound Reengagement Collaborative is launching two significant initiatives to support their goals. First, they are conducting a research project using the Street Data framework to better understand post-secondary disconnection in their region. This project will gather high-frequency data that can be collected and acted upon quickly, with implementation planned for January through June. The research will explore why many young people with high school diplomas or GEDs are neither working nor pursuing post-secondary credentials. Second, the collaborative is organizing its first Reengagement Advocacy Day on January 29, 2026, in Olympia. This event will bring together partners, students, and supporters to advocate for opportunity youth and adult learners. To inform their policy agenda, the collaborative is distributing a Community Needs Survey to gather feedback from stakeholders by December 1st. Additionally, six research fellows representing both King and Pierce Counties have been selected to conduct a research project, with their first official monthly meeting recently completed.
Relevant Q&A
Ryan: Does this group have any representation from any of the tribal TERO offices (Tribal Employment Rights Offices)?
Angela: We had folks from the South Puget Sound Intertribal Agency joining us last year. They're still on our email list, but we would love connections to more of our tribal partners.
Ryan: Many tribes have resources for tribal members that can help get them working or get them working towards a post-secondary credential. Angela: That would be great to include in our collaborative.
Actionable Next Steps / Assignments
Complete and share the Community Needs Survey by December 1st to help inform the policy agenda for Advocacy Day
Attend the next Sound Reengagement Collaborative meeting on November 21st at Green River College's Kent campus
Join the Discord channel to receive updates, share resources, and connect with other members between meetings
Look out for information about social gatherings in December (no formal meeting scheduled)
Consider participating in the network research project using the Street Data framework (contact Danika if interested)
